What does the adult boxwood leafminer look like?

• A. Yellow to orange-red, mosquito-like fly.
• B. Green aphid-like insect.
• C. Brown beetle with striped wings.
• D. White butterfly with black spots.

Answer: (A)

The adult boxwood leafminer is a tiny, slender fly. It’s yellow to orange-red and looks mosquito-like, with a small body and long legs, only a few millimeters long. This distinguishes it from other boxwood pests: aphids are green and pear-shaped, beetles are brown with striped wings and a more robust body, and white butterflies have larger, patterned wings. So the mosquito-like yellow-to-orange-red fly best matches the adult leafminer.